Church bell ringers



Jan. 21, 1958 1.. J. WlTKOWlAK cmmcn BELL RINGERS Filed Sept. 30, 1954 Q a" E IN VEN TOR.

A TTDENEY United States Patent CHURCH BELL RINGERS Leon J. Witkowiak, Milwaukee, Wis. Application September 30, 1954, Serial No. 459,267 7 Claims. (Cl. 340-398) This invention relates to a church bell ringer.

The device substantially duplicates the manual operation of ringing a church bell. To this end, the power of a reversible electric motor is communicated to the bell at the initiation of the bell ringing movement and thereafter, as the bell swings to and fro with increasing amplitude, the power is exerted only in the direction in which the bell is already swinging and only through about 10 of are centering in the rest position of the bell. The power used is intentionally so limited as to require a considerable number of oscillations of the bell before it reaches full amplitude, just as is the case in manual bell ringing. Excessive power would be required to oscillate the bell to its full amplitude on the first impulse. In addition, the desired effect of clapper action during free swinging movement of the bell can be duplicated only if the application of power is limited to the bottom of the swing. The reversal of the direction of oscillation of the bell is used to control the application of power. Therefore, in order that such reversal may occur, the power used should be great enough so that in the initial closing of the circuit the amplitude of oscillation will open the circuit. Yet the power must not be so great or its application so long as to hold the bell in its extreme position of oscillation, thus preventing the reversing switch from functioning.

To accomplish these results, switches are located at opposite sides of the rock shaft which drives the bell and lost motion between the rock shaft and a friction retarded disk is used to effect lateral movement of a camming device which slides back and forth according to the relative movement between the shaft and the friction retarded disk. In each position of the camming device, it will engage one of the switches and is free of engagement with the other, the arrangement being such that as the bell reverses its direction of oscillation at the conclusion of each swing, lost motion occurs between the rock shaft and the friction retarded disk to cause the camming device to slide laterally from a position to engage one of the switches and to a position in which it will engage the other switch to augment the reverse swinging movement of the bell as the bell approaches its position of rest.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of bell ringing apparatus embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus in front elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the control mechanism in end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a detail view taken in section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing the parts of Fig. 3 as they appear in a position other than that illustrated in Fig. 3.

The bell 7, provided in the usual way with clapper 8 is suspended conventionally in a yoke 9 terminally toothed at 10 for adjustable connection with the toothed fittings 11 at the inner end of the rock shaft sections 12a and 12b of the rock shaft generically designated by reference ice character 12. The rock shaft sections are individually provided with appropriate bearings in the heavy brackets 13 and 14 which may be mounted on a base 15 which also carries the operating motor 16.

The adjustable connection of the yoke with the rock shaft fittings 10 and 11 enables the bell to be adjusted to any desired level with respect to its axis of oscillation, whereby the forces imposed upon it by gravity may be regulated.

While the motor 16 may be connected with the rock shaft 12 in any desired manner, it is preferred to use for this purpose a chain 17 having a central bight 18 trained over a sprocket 19 on the armature shaft 20 of motor 16. The ends of the chain pass circuitously about the large pulley 21 on rock shaft 12, serving as cables for the transmission of motion from the motor to the pulley. The chain length 22 extends about around the pulley in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 and has a fixed anchorage thereto at 23. The chain length 24 extends even farther around the pulley in another clockwise direction and has a terminal connection at 24a to a tension spring 25 attached to a spoke 26 of the pulley. This spring takes up all the slack in the chain. Yet the wrap of the chain around the pulley is such that there is virtually no slippage between the chain and the pulley in operation.

Connected by bracket 28 with the frame member 13 is a plate 29 upon which are mounted the switches 30 and 31 respectively connected with the motor 16 for the operation thereof in forward and reverse. The respective switches have switch actuators 32 and 33 respectively provided with cam follower rollers 34 and 35 engageable by the cams 36 and 37 of cam slide 38. The respective switches are normally open. They are closed only as their respective cam follower rollers are engaged by one of the cams of the cam slide. The length of the cam slide is such that one of its terminal cams can close only.

one of the control switches at a time.

The means for operating the cam slide to determine the closing of the respective switches are as follows: The cam slide is guided for transverse receiprocating movement with respect to a disk 40 which is mounted coaxially with rock shaft section 12a of the bell mounting. In the device as presently disclosed, the disk is mounted directly upon the shaft. However, it is capable of independent oscillation, being connected with the shaft only through the slide 38 in the manner hereinafter described. Moreover, While it has been referred to as a disk, and desirably is a disk in practice, it has this form only to enable the use of the arcuate brake shoe at 41 which bears on the periphery of the disk. Use of some other type of brake would render the form of member 40 immaterial. The brake shoe is mounted for movement radially respecting the axis of shaft 12. A convenient means of providing such a mounting involves the use of cap screws 42 received in slots 43 in the shoe as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The cap screws are attached to plate 29. A leaf spring 45 connected by screws 46 to the mounting plate 29 exemplifies one convenient way of applying spring pressure biasing the brake shoe 41 into engagement with disk 40. It will be observed that the central portion of the leaf spring rides upon the top margin of the brake shoe. The arrangement is such that moderate resistance to rotation of member 40 is offered.

The cam slide 38 is mounted on member 40 to partake of its oscillation and is made slidable transversely with respect to rock shaft 12. A convenient means of mounting the slide for the limited oscillation required of it is to provide pins projecting from the face of member 40 at 48 and engaged in slots 49 which are providedin the ends of the cam slide 38 to form ways engaging pins;

48 for the support and guidance of the slide in its reciprocation respecting member 40.

Immediately outside of slide 38 the shaft 112a of rock shaft 12 is provided with a radially extending peg at 50 engaged in the aperture 51 of a plate 52 overhanging the side of slide 38.

As the rock shaft 12 oscillates, its motion is communicated through peg 50 to slide 38 which tends to effect corresponding oscillation of member 40 through the pins 48. However, the fact that the slide is free to move relatively to member 40 upon the ways above described permits a certain amount of lost motion between these parts and lost motion is occasioned to the full extent permitted, as the result of friction imposed on member 40 to the brake shoe 41. Accordingly, every time the rock shaft changes its direction of oscillation, the slide 38 will move across center with respect to plate it and will thereafter oscillate with the rock shaft.

In Fig. 3, the parts are in a position in which the bell and its rock shaft 12 are oscillating counterclockwise or, possibly, are at rest, having come to rest in the course of a counterclockwise oscillation. The slide 3a; is illustrated in Fig. 3 in its extreme lefthand position, having been forced to that position by the peg St in consequence of the drag on member 40. In the above position, the cam 36 engages the roller 34 and switch 30 is therefore closed. This switch is connected to motor 16 in such a manner as to rotate the motor in that direction which will exert power on rock shaft 12 to oscillate the bell and rock shaft counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, this being the same direction of oscillation required to close switch 30.

Fig. 5 shows the parts after substantial amplitude of oscillation of the bell and rock shaft 12 have been achieved. The direction of oscillation is now clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5. Consequently, the slide 38 is in its extreme righthand position in this view and its cam portion 37 is extended to a position for engagement with roller 35 of the actuator 53 of switch 31. This switch is so connected with the motor as to actuate the motor in the direction required to oscillate the bell and rock shaft 12 for clockwise movement as viewed in Fig. 5. However, due to the limited amplitude of oscillation through which the cam and the cam follower roller are in engagement, it will be noted that the cam has already gone far beyond a position for engagement with roller 35. The switch 31 has, therefore, already been opened in the position of the parts here illustrated. It will not close again in the reverse or counterclockwise swing of the bell because, as the bell reverses, the slide 38 will move into position to close switch 30.

In practice, the respective switches are closed, according to the direction of shaft oscillation, about 5 in advance of bottom dead center and reopened about 5 beyond bottom dead center, thus limiting the effective driving operation of the motor to about of oscillation of the bell and its supporting rock shaft. The extreme oscillation of the bell in the preferred device has an amplitude of about 180. After the oscillation of the bell reaches a substantial amplitude as a result of repeated operations of the driving device illustrated, each change of direction of movement of the hell 7 will result in the striking of clapper 8 against its rim in the usual manner. This operation will continue as long as the circuit to motor 16 is left closed at the remote control switch 55.

Due to the fact that each reversal of direction of oscillation is accompanied by a shift of the cam slide, which remains shifted until the reversal of oscillation occurs again, and due to the fact that the cam slide engages one or another of the cam followers of the respective switch actuators in the position of rest of the bell (and for a few degrees at each side of that position), it is obviously impossible to have both of the switches 30 and 31 open with the bell at rest. One

or the other switch is always closed. Consequently, when the control switch 55 is closed, the motor will be actuated by one or another of the switches 33' or 31. According to its direction of operation, it will oscillate the bell and the rock shaft 12 either clockwise or counterclockwise with amplitude sufficient so that, either by the opening of the controlling switch 36 or 31, or because the momentum of the bell has caused it to overrun the power of the motor, in either case the direction of oscillation of the bell will reverse and upon its return swing the other switch will be energized to augment the swing. The amplitude will continue to increase as the bell swings to and fro until ringing commences and, ultimately, full amplitude is reached.

I claim:

1. in a device for ringing a bell which is mounted for oscillation and including a motor having a driving connection with the bell, the combination of a switch controlling the motor during bell operation and having a cam follower actuator, an oscillator connected with the bell to partake of its swinging movement, a slide mounting member having a support on which it is oscillatable with the oscillator, a cam slide mounted on the slide mounting member and having a cam engageable with said cam follower in one position of the slide, said slide and slide mounting member having means providing ways for the guidance of the slide, and a driving connection to the slide from the oscillator, the movement of the slide on said ways permitting lost motion in the drive between the oscillator and the slide mounting member, and means for resisting the oscillation of the slide mounting member whereby to ensure reciprocation of the slide upon reversal of the direction of oscillation of the oscillator, the cam and cam foliower aforesaid being positioned for engagement to close the motor circuit when the oscillator has been moving in a direction in which the motor will augment the amplitude of such movement if such circuit is closed, said cam having limited extent whereby the switch closing effected thereby is momentary, the oscillator being free for continued osciilation beyond the point at which the switch is closed.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the position of the cam and cam follower is such that the circuit is necessarily closed in the position of rest of the oscillator and mounting member.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the said switch and cam follower are duplicated at opposite sides of the axis of oscillator oscillation and the motor is reversible, the respective switches being connected to operate the motor to drive the oscillator, in each case, in the same direction of bell oscillation in which the oscillator was already in oscillation in the engagement of the respective cams with the respective cam follower.

4-. In a device of the character described and including a bell mounting rock shaft having a normal position of rest, a driving rotor, and a reversible motor having an armature shaft about which is trained a flexible member connected with said rotor, the combination of a pair of normally open switches operatively connected with no posite driving connections of said motor and disposed on opposite sides of the rock shaft, switch actuators provided with cam followers, a cam slide having cam portions positioned for interaction with the respective cam followers to close the respective switches, the said slide being reciprocable transversely of the rocl; shaft to extreme positions of selective engagement between its cams and only one of said switches, a mounting for said slide having a support upon which it is oscillatable substantially coaxially with the rock shaft carrying said slide with it in the course of said oscillation, said slide and slide mounting having means providing ways upon which the slide is reciprocable transversely as aforesaid, means frictionally opposing the oscillation of the slide mounting and means projecting from the rock shaft and engaged with the slide for transmitting motion from the rock shaft through the slide to the slide mounting, said ways having means limiting relative reciprocation of said slide to require the oscillation of the mounting at the conclusion of the relative sliding motion permitted such slide respecting the slide mounting, the respective cams having limited arcuate extent much less than the amplitude of oscillation of the rock shaft during bell ringing movement and being positioned to engage the respective cam followers to close one of the switches for motor actuation in a direction to augment rock shaft movement through a limited arc at the normal position of rest of the rock shaft.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the said slide mounting comprises a disk and a means for resisting oscillation thereof comprises a brake shoe peripherally engaging the disk.

6. The device of claim 4 in which the slide comprises a plate having notched ends engaged by pins projecting from said slide mounting to provide the Ways aforesaid, said plate having arcuately curved terminal elements constituting said cam.

7. The device of claim 6 in which the means for driving the slide mounting through the slide comprises a peg projecting radially from the rock shaft and for which the slide is provided with an apertured overhanging plate through which the peg extends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,938,712 Merrill Dec. 12, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 584,918 France Dec. 29, 1924 

